Gov. Gavin Newsom signed on Wednesday letting California rely on independent medical groups instead of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and its for vaccine recommendations. It also requires state-regulated health plans to cover those vaccines.

Also on Wednesday, California and the newly formed West Coast Health Alliance COVID-19 vaccines to anyone over 6 months of age who wants them, moving away from more restrictive federal guidance. Pregnant women are also urged to get COVID-19, flu and RSV shots.

The alliance is meant to keep vaccine recommendations rooted in science according to Dr. Pia Pannaraj, an infectious disease specialist at UC San Diego.

“Their decision is based on understanding the evidence and listening to the experts,” Pannaraj said.

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